Pura Luhur Candi Narmada Tanah Kilap is not only a place of worship for Hindus but also a fascinating religious tourism destination in Denpasar. For those seeking tranquility infused with a spiritual aura, this temple, surrounded by the estuary, is well worth a visit.
Located at the border between Badung Regency and Denpasar City, specifically at the estuary of Tukad Badung on Jalan Bypass I Gusti Ngurah Rai Denpasar, the temple is believed to be the dwelling place of Ida Ratu Bhatari Nihang Sakti, the Goddess of Prosperity. As a place to seek prosperity, this temple is never short of visitors. It is also a destination for traders and fishermen who come to pray for prosperity.
According to IB Made Sudana, the temple priest, before it stood in its current grandeur, Pura Luhur Tanah Kilap existed as a humble shrine. "The history of this temple is recorded in ancient manuscripts found at Griya Gede Gunung Beau Muncan in Karangasem," he explained.
As for the history of this temple, as told by Sudana, during the reign of the Bandana Raja kingdom, on the southern coast of the island of Bali there lived a Bendega (fisherman) named Pan Santeng, who lived daily from his activities as a fisherman at the mouth of a river facing the sea. South Bali. One day, while at sea, it turned out that Pan Santeng had no results at all, and this incident went on for three consecutive days.
Finally on the third day, finally Pan Santeng said his masesangi (vow) promise, if he got fish, he would give pekelem and his prayer was answered.
"Thus, Pan Santeng built a shrine on the rocky outcrop and, with unwavering devotion, he offered prayers at the shrine every day as his catch continued to increase," Sudana added.
Until one day, Pan Santeng received word that the shrine was the residence of Ida Brahma Putri from Patni Keniten named Ida Ayu Ngurah Saraswati Swabhawa.
Such is the essence of the history of Pura Luhur Candi Narmada and that temple for centuries remained in the form of a simple stone shrine on a rock, until finally it was continued by Sudana in 1958 when a mother from Kuta received a gift to build a grand studio in the Pelinggih Ratu Niang Sakti area.
Akhirnya sanggar agung dibangun, dan lambat lain pelinggih tersebut semakin banyak dikunjungi masyarakat dari seluruh Kota Denpasar maupun dari luar Denpasar. “Terutama oleh para pedagang dan nelayan, pura ini menjadi tempat untuk memohon anugrah,” lanjutnya.
Along with the times, slowly, the construction of the Luhur Tanah Kilap temple is growing with several buildings and other buildings starting from Bale Kulkul, Pelinggih Ratu Gede Bendega, Gelung Kuri and Pelatasan, Pelinggih Padmasana, Pelinggih Meru and Negara Segara, Pelinggih Ada Rambut Sedana, Pelinggih Penglurah, Pelinggih Bhatara Wisnu, Pelinggih Ratu Bagus, Pelinggih Jineng, Pelinggih Bhatari Niang Sakti, Gedong Simpen and Telaga Waja and Bale Peselang.
Sudana said the pelinggih was in the main Mandala Pura Luhur Tanah Kilap. Meanwhile, in the Palembang area, there are two other shrines, namely the Bhatara Dalem Ped Junction Temple which is located to the east and Taman Temple and Tapa Gni which are located to the west. The existing shrines and pretense are one unit in Pura Luhur Candi Narmada Tanah Kilap.
